What To Do With Old Baby Clothes?

Are you wondering what to do with old baby clothes that have accumulated in your closest or garage?

Rather than let them sit there collecting dust, no doubt you want to find some practical things to do with old baby clothes!

If you have children, chances are you’ll accumulate quite a collection of baby clothes over time.

No doubt you have a few special baby outfits you want to turn into sweet baby keepsakes.

But what do you do with the rest of them? Especially if they are in great condition?

Well, we’re here to give you some practical ideas on what to do with used baby clothes!

And if you love this guide on the best thing to do with old baby clothes, then make sure to check out our guides on ways to upcycle baby clothes into useful items and clever ways to organize baby clothes.

What To Do With Old Baby Clothes

Let’s dive in an check out what to do with baby clothes once you no longer need them.

1. Donate Them To Charity

The first thing that comes to mind when we think about donating our baby clothes is the local women’s shelter.

Many shelters will take in used baby clothes and distribute them among pregnant mothers and families experiencing homelessness.

You can also donate your extra diapers, wipes, formula, food, and other necessities to these families.

Another option is to donate your baby clothes to a local church or community center.

These organizations may accept gently used items from both adults and children. Some even offer free pick-up services.

If you’re not sure where to send your baby clothes, check with your local Goodwill store. It might be able to help you find a good home for your donations.

Thinking about a charity that is important to you can make letting go of sentimental items much easier. 

2. Sell Them

If you decide to sell your baby clothes instead of donating them, you can use sites like eBay or Etsy to list them for sale.

You may get more money than you would by giving them away, but it depends on how many people are looking for specific types of baby clothes.

You could also post your baby clothes on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. This way, you can connect directly with potential buyers.

It is however, essential to remember that second hand baby clothes are worth significantly less than new clothes, even if they have only been washed but never used. That’s one reason why we recommend holding of washing your new baby clothes and keeping the tag on until you know you will use them. 

3. Return or Exchange Them

If you still have the receipt for the baby clothes and they have never been worn then you can likely take them back to the store they were purchased from and returned or exchanged for a larger size.

Most stores will have a set requirements for returns so just ensure you check their returns policy first.

4. Recycle Them

Many communities now have programs that allow residents to recycle their baby clothes. For example, in San Francisco, there is an annual event called Baby Recycling Day.

Residents can drop off their baby clothes during this one day each year. The city then collects all the old baby clothes and distributes them to needy families.

Some cities also have special recycling bins specifically for baby clothes. When you bring your baby clothes to these bins, you can get cash back for your donations.

Check with your local government office to see if there are any similar programs in your area. Recycling is a great option if you want to get rid of the clothes quickly.

5. Give Them Away As Gifts

If you know someone expecting a baby, consider buying them a gift basket to fill with baby clothes. This can be especially easy if you’re baby clothes are still new and never been worn (I know this sounds unlikely but you’d be surprised how many baby clothes you need and how many you don’t).

You would not believe how many expectant parents will appreciate a bundle of baby clothes, and it will also save you the money of going out and buying them an expensive gift.

6. Make Them Into A Memory Blanket Or Keepsake

Baby clothes are often very important to parents as they hold fond memories of when their little ones were at their littlest.

A nice way of keeping old baby clothes could be keeping them and making them into a memory blanket or quilt.

This is especially useful if you have lots of baby clothes and do not know what to do with them.

You can create a memory blanket or quilted using fabric scraps, buttons, ribbons, and other materials that remind you of your child when they were a baby. 

7. Find A New Purpose For Them

Repurposing old baby clothes can be a great way of sorting out two problems at once.

It can help to reduce the amount of old baby clothes lying around, but it can also allow you to get something new out of them.

For instance, you could take the clothes and turn them into a pillowcase. Use them to line a toy box or a dresser drawer.

You could even use the material from them to make your child new clothes that still fit. Or for those that are beyond repair use them as rags around the house.

There are endless ways to repurpose old baby clothes.

8. Use Them As Hand Me Downs

If you are not quite ready to let go of the sentimental or financial value that the old baby clothes hold, and you have, or plan on having, more children than you could keep your baby’s old clothes to use as hand-me-downs.

This is especially true for items such as  blankets, t-shirts, hats, socks, etc. as these are things that you might need again later down the road so why not just keep them?

It could be a good idea to still have a sort through though as you will probably find that there are some items that you are ready to part ways with.

For instance some items will probably be past their best in which case you might not want to reuse them and instead a better option may be to recycle them. 

And if you’re done having babies, you can always keep them as hand me downs for your family or friends.

Final Thoughts on Things To Do With Old Baby Clothes

Deciding that it’s time to part ways with some of your little ones old baby clothes is a tough call to make, so you’ve already done the difficult part.

It is only natural however, that you want them to go towards something purposeful.

Really try to think about which option feels most rewarding to you and which one will make you feel the most content.

The options above should give you plenty of ideas and inspiration to come up with some creative solutions to your problem.

If you decide that you want to donate them to charity, check with your nearest place first to ensure that they accept donations.

And if you’re looking for more great baby guides, then check out these clothing guides on difference between 2t vs 24 months clothing, 2t vs 3t, when do babies stop wearing onesies, and what size comes after 5t.